At a very young age, Helio Gracie learned traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu techniques
from his older brother, Carlos. In the late 1920s, he began to modify these techniques
to accommodate his frail physique with the objective of developing a system that
would enable him to defend himself against larger opponents. After years of refinement,
he proved his art's effectiveness by routinely defeating larger and stronger
opponents, some of whom outweighed him by as much as 100 pounds. As a result, Helio's
techniques quickly became the new expression of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil and set the
stage for a worldwide revolution in martial arts.

Although Gracie or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the most effective martial art on the planet,
it is a relatively young martial art. Realizing that the key to global dissemination
of pure Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was the development of a formalized curriculum, the Gracie
Academy dedicated several years to organizing all the techniques in the most logical
sequence based on their complexity and usefulness in combat. Furthermore, we conduct
all group classes with the utmost concern for safety, and we demand that all students
treat each other respectfully regardless of skill level, gender, race, nationality,
or creed. At the Gracie Academy we don't teach people how to fight. We give people
confidence so they don't need to fight.

Gracie Combatives is the official beginner program of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy. In this program, students learn the 36 most important techniques in a fun, safe, and cooperative training environment.

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a way of life. The principles of discipline, patience, efficiency, and control are the keys to success on and off the mat. Whether your a dedicated practitioner of the art or just a fan of the Gracie way, the casual wear, training gear, and accessories in the Gracie Store will remind you to keep it real at all times. With all Gracie Store purchases, your satisfaction is guaranteed. If you're not 100% happy with your purchase, simply send it back and we'll replace it or refund your money (as long as you promise not to choke us out!). Select a category below to begin browsing, and then feel free to order online or give us a call at 1-877-472-2430 (Monday - Friday, 10am to 6pm PST) and we will gladly assist you over the phone. If you have a question about the status of your order feel free to shoot us an e-mail at
store@gracieacademy.com.

Novedades Gracie

GJJ Philosophy and Eye Gouges

December 23, 2009

The following letter was sent to Rener in response to the somewhat controversial radio interview he did a few weeks ago.

"Dear Rener,

Thanks for the Podcast, in particular the story about the blue beltfrom another school that went crazy trying to get out of side mount. Istarted jiu-jitsu under a purple belt around 2004, I then went to aGracie around 2006 and to another prominent teacher in 2007. I havestudied martial arts for 20 years in March, I hold a Godan under ablack belt karate hall of famer. The idea of fighting to not lose hadnever been taught to me, until you guys. People who say that GJJ needsmore philosophy are crazy; the philosophy of patience and fighting toavoid defeat versus fighting with a purely offensive mindset isawesome. Even having studied jiu-jitsu for several years now, I justnever got that philosophy. In fact, I was rolling with a black belt inBJJ last year and he passed my guard to side mount. There was somepressure, of course, but I never felt in danger of being submitted. Nowthis guy was at least 10 years younger than me and in much bettershape, so I just hung out and waited for an opportunity to escape.After about four minutes we switched partners, I never got submitted soI felt pretty good about it all.

After class I received a lot of criticism for not making a moreaggressive attempt to change my position. It was so bad that I spent ayear working on side mount escapes, and to be honest I felt like afailure in many ways. The story you told really helped me, I feel muchbetter now, it's hard to describe in words.

You also mentioned eye gouges. In 1999, I got into an altercation witha guy much larger than me. When I tried to walk away he hit me in theback of the head. At the time I was a black belt in karate, but had notdone any BJJ. I started seeing stars and went down. As we werewrestling on the floor I got really afraid I was going to be hurt, so Ishoved my thumb into his eye as hard as I could. I wish I had known GJJback then. Although I was vindicated in court (there were a lot ofwitnesses) it still cost me a lot of time, a few days in jail, and Iended up having to get therapy because of the guilt I felt from hurtinghim so badly. I caused permanent physical damage to another person, andthat's hard to live with, even if it was self-defense. I didn'tpractice any martial arts for about 4 years after that. In general, itwas a horrible experience, one that I know wouldn't have happened had Iknown Gracie Combatives. The only positive thing that came of it wasthat years later the memory of it made me want to learn jiu-jitsu sothat I had options other than an eye gouging when faced with a moreathletic opponent. I so often hear "just eye gouge", well it's not aseasy as people think, and it will haunt you. It's far better to takethe time to learn a different, more humane way of self-defense.

So anyway, thanks you guys, not only for Gracie Combatives, but for thephilosophy of GJJ, it has changed my life and the lives of my six kidsas well. In fact it has become a way of life for our whole family. LikeI said, I have practiced martial arts for almost 20 years, and I thinkI am finally beginning to understand it, thanks to you guys. To me ithas always been about self-defense, now I think I am on the correctpath. I mean no disrespect to my other teachers, or to the art I workedso hard at for so many years, but one must be honest to grow, and thatis why I had to change from Issinryu Karate to BJJ and then, finally,to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Thanks for teaching me.